An unusual ‘double issue’ General Service Medal for Malaya awarded to Sapper Bombahadur Gurung, Corps of Royal Engineers (Gurkha)

General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R. (2) (21136757 Spr Bombahadur Gurung R.E Gur; 21136757 Spr. Bombahadur. Gurung, R.E Gur) both struck on slightly thinner flans, disc officially narrowed to second at 6 o’clock, most likely to accommodate re-impressed forename, nearly very fine and scarce to unit (2) £100-£140

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Gurkhas.

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Gurkhas were first enlisted into the Corps of Royal Engineers in September 1948 when a Gurkha Training Squadron (Royal Engineers) was formed at Kluang, Malaya. No. 67 Field Squadron was raised in 1949, No. 68 Field Squadron in 1950 and the Regimental Headquarters of the 50th Field Regiment, Royal Engineers, followed in 1951. The Regiment later became part of the Brigade of Gurkhas and was renamed the ‘Gurkha Engineers’ by Royal Warrant on 28 September 1955; based at Sungei Best near Kuala Lumpur from 1955 to 1961, the unit witnessed extensive service during the Malayan Emergency, most notably repairing railway lines, bridges and infrastructure which was a soft target for communist insurgents.